The Holiday Season Can Be a Nightmare for Those with Misophonia.

A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her relatives over the holidays, but admits one of the only ways she'll cope is by relying on her earplugs - notably for the holiday meal.

For her, this time of year often feels like a particularly difficult time as the sounds of family members munching, drinking noisily and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.

"There's this sensation of immediate anxiety, my whole body will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."

The individual has experienced this condition since she was 16 and for her that renders the Christmas time "exceptionally stressful".

Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds coming from other people.

It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study discovered almost one in five people are affected by it.

Often it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, heavy breathing, and foot tapping.

'Anxiety Inducing'

Lottie says: "You encounter so many assorted problematic noises at the holidays and that can be stressful and make you dread it.

"My family are supportive, but I'm very conscious that I don't want to spoil the mood. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to make sure others enjoy themselves."

So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.

Noises that may appear innocuous, like someone drinking champagne, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them withdrawing from gatherings.

Jenna, a university student, who has experienced sound sensitivity since aged 10, says her strategy is to put her earphones in to manage the meal. Usually, she would often retreat in a different room to minimize problematic noises.

She explains her condition is more pronounced around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "challenging".

"There's an expectation to socialize with loved ones, and I want to, but it's draining.

"It's like this uncontrollable anger comes over me, which can feel embarrassing, or I'll feel panicked and burst into tears and then fight-or-flight will activate.

"It may seem as if I'm being oversensitive and melodramatic, but it's hard to explain without firsthand experience."

Several Strategies to Cope

If you suffer then there are some different techniques you can try to cope the situation, as suggested by clinical psychologists.

1. Imagine a Different Scenario: Creative thinking is essential. Work on connecting the triggering sound causing distress with an unrelated image. For instance, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you is neutral.
2. Make it a Game: Use lightheartedness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. By joining in, rather than feeling like the sound is an attack, you become an engaged person. And the competition element should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
3. Create a Scenario: One more method is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is doing it. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or are troubled. The idea is changing the meaning of the sound. While the sound remains identical, your reaction of it changes from being irritating, to feeling a little more neutral about it.